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Spray Hood

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samuel View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote samuel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Spray Hood
    Posted: 27 March 2011 at 08:46
I have always rejected the idea of a spray hood
My personal feelings have been that if I wanted a tent I should go camping. If I wanted spray dodgers I should go on the beach & put up wind breaks.
 
However, I have just seen a subject on the 301 site where an owner has recommended to a potential buyer that he should check the boat has a sprayhood
 
When I went for my test sail, Hanse arranged for an owner to take me in the trail boat. That owner asked if I wanted to sail with the hood up & I said "no". he smiled  & nodded in total agreement, so clearly he did not like these contraptions.
 
Compared with my last boat the Hanse creates very little spray & I have only had a few trips where this has been a problem
One of the problems with a Hanse 311 is that the cockpit is very shallow & offers very little protection. As I get older I am beginning to become a " wimp" & I suffer far more from the cold
 
My question is -Do they give any protection to the crew when sailing. other than stop a bit of spray. Are they really just a waste of time? Do they justify the cost? Would I be better with spray dodgers on the rails? Or should I just put on an extra layer of thermals????
 
Daydream Believer
Daydream Believer- Hanse 311- No GBR9917T- Bradwell Essex
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Gulliver View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gulliver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 March 2011 at 14:00
Hi Samuel,
Depends on your interests-we do not race anymore and for cruising I would not be without a sprayhood.
Advantages are-protection from spray going to windward-protection of instruments,especially our plotter mounted on deck-handy space to stuff gloves/hats etc-great wind protection for lounging in the cockpit when head to wind anchored or on a swinging mooring-keeps rain out so can leave cockpit washboards out when on board for ventilation etc.
Disadvantages-cost-visibility in tight spaces-windage when low speed manouvring.We drop ours(takes less than 1 min) when entering /leaving marinas.
As you can see from these comments convenience and comfort are high priorities for us as we live on board for 4 months of the year.If you only day sail and race then I guess you would have a different opinion.
David
David
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Johan Hackman View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Johan Hackman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 March 2011 at 21:21
Originally posted by samuel samuel wrote:

My personal feelings have been that if I wanted a tent I should go camping. If I wanted spray dodgers I should go on the beach & put up wind breaks.

Compared with my last boat the Hanse creates very little spray & I have only had a few trips where this has been a problem


I find your questions very interesting. I have myself opted not to have a spray hood for almost the same reasons that you do. I also think that my boat shows her looks much better without it and that the unobstructed view that the helmsman enjoys sitting on the cockpit bench is worth a lot more than the shelter a spray hood would give from the wind. I have had less than ten sprays across the deck since I bought my boat, one of which is the one seen in the picture below.

It will be interesting to hear what others will say about the advantages of a spray hood.

Johan

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holby View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote holby Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 March 2011 at 11:27
Ah now advantages of a spray hood,;-
1) whilst at anchor or on a swing mooring, during rain it is nice to have the hatch open and not have the rain come in.
2) it does offer a wee bit of shade from the sun and the rain and the spray, and when on long trips this is useful.
3) It also offers a little bit more privacy when in a Marina berth.
 
I must admit I do enjoy sailing without a spray hood and yes it does offer good visability, for the helm but I have yet to find a situation that I have thought, damn this sparay hood, I cannot see what I am doing.
As I have come to this kind of sailing from dinghies, where spray and lumps of water in the small cockpit out at sea is a regulary occurance, it is nice when the weather is poor and most day sailors have scuttled home to port, to be out and enjoying the sailing then, and a little bit of added shelter is not just useful but quiet pleasant.
BUT to use another phrase - whatever floats your boat, and you enjoy what you are doing, who is to say if it is better or not except the person concerned.
 
Dave


Edited by holby - 28 March 2011 at 11:27
Hanse 301, tiller steering, Volvo 2010 (10hp)
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H8jer View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote H8jer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 March 2011 at 13:38
Hi Samuel

My family and I have benefited greatly from having a sprayhood and cockpit tent.
The boat seems much bigger, with a cockpit tent. It takes a few minutes to remove the tent and back.
When we sail, we have always the sprayhood put down.
But in the rain or when there is no wind but strong sunshine, we have raised the sprayhood.

There are 2 disadvantages with sprayhood and cockpit tent. Bird crap is easier to remove from teak decks than from the canvas.
And it is dangerous to have the tent up when going to bed at anchor. If the wind blows up and the anchor start drifting, it provides bad visibility and the boat is several minutes from being ready to go sailing (with sail).

But I would definitely recommend a sprayhood and a cockpit tent. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Greetings
Hanse 370#487 30HP 3-cabin
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CharlesP View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CharlesP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 March 2011 at 00:02
I love the wind, spray and rain in my face and have sailed that way all my life. Now, in twilight years, my new Hanse of last year came with a sprayhood. And I quickly appreciated it's merits on our delivery trip from Hamble to Medway. On long sailing days / nights, it is so much more relaxing. What is much more important is crew comfort and, there is no doubt that my crew (my wife) thoroughly enjoys this luxury.

I won't bother with dodgers as they are of very limited benefit, obstruct views and are not neighbourly.

Charles
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320 Nr 536 2010

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holby View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote holby Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 March 2011 at 01:30
Dogers, now that is another story, again this is personsal preference. I enjoy sailing, and having dodgers does not actually detract from my enjoyment of sailing but in some cases it does improve it. For example, when the sun is shinning and my wife is helming, i can lie down on the seat stretch out and doze and the dodger will keep the wind of me whilst the sun shines down.
Now as regards obstructing the view, again i have yet to have a time when i say " damn these dogers, i can't see" because when helming i can glance over the side and if i need to look down at water level by the hull, even without dodgers i would not be able to see, unless i lean over.
So to me the main problem that dodgers cause is the same as the main problem that sprayhoods cause, and it is not reduced views but increased windage 
As with most things, it is a compromise, and a descision has to be made as to will it improve my enjoyment of sailing, yes or no, if the answer is yes, then go for it. Like I have, I am probably a real wimp for having a spray hood and Dodgers on the side, but I dont really care.
 
So I say a big thumbs up to Spray Hoods and Dodgers, Thumbs%20Up
Dave
PS But then of course a lot tend to sail only in the summer months, when it is nice and warmLOLLOLLOLLOLLOL


Edited by holby - 31 March 2011 at 01:35
Hanse 301, tiller steering, Volvo 2010 (10hp)
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CharlesP View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CharlesP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 March 2011 at 09:58
Regarding dodgy Dave - whoops- I meant to say,
Regarding dodgers, Dave, in our busy shipping channels and on Medway race days, my crews eyes are extremely useful, but their necks are not long enough to see over dodgers whilst seated comfortably in the cockpit.

Charles
'MERIDIAN LADY'

320 Nr 536 2010

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holby View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote holby Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 March 2011 at 21:38
Nice one CP, it sounds as if you either dont feed your crew enough or they are naturally small.LOL
Really Dodgy Dave Wink
Hanse 301, tiller steering, Volvo 2010 (10hp)
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CharlesP View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CharlesP Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 April 2011 at 00:25
She, who must be obeyed, may look small, but is a huge force in my life. You're right about the food though - my other love "Meridian Lady" takes most of the money, leaving me a balance for beer.

Charles
'MERIDIAN LADY'

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